It’s the unceremonious return of Tankathon to our lives
Hello darkness my old friend…
Ah, yes. While these highly entertaining NBA Playoffs rage on, the Dallas Mavericks are sitting at home, thinking about the mistakes that they’ve made. The 2024-25 season was an unmitigated disaster that undoubtedly set the franchise back for a decade. However, there is little time for them to dwell on that issue, as the NBA Draft Lottery is rapidly approaching.
Over the course of the next couple weeks, we will run a daily Tankathon simulation every day until the NBA Draft Lottery takes place on May 12th. We’ll recap the spins and dive into who could potentially be available at that pick based off of what numerous mock drafts have projected.
April 21
The pick: Jase Richardson (Michigan State)
For Dallas with the 11th pick, there’s likely to be at least a couple guards who could be helpful. Jase Richardson out of Michigan State would be my choice. Richardson is young, but when he entered the rotation at the start of Big Ten Conference play, the Spartans took off. Jase could use some work in the ballhandling department, but he’s an above average athlete who shot the three at over 41%. That is enough for me to see that he’s got a chance to be an impactful player in this league.
April 22
The pick: Kasparas Jakucionis (Illinois)
The same scenarios exist for the Mavericks here, as well, including a potential trade back to try and stack some assets moving forward. In this case, we’ll take Jakucionis, a Lithuanian out of the University of Illinois. Jakucionis has the size and skill to develop into an all-star caliber player, but he’s got to get the turnovers under control and find some consistency with his shot. Kasparas only shot 44% from the floor and 31% from deep. However, he shot almost 85% from the free throw line, so that gives you hope that he can develop as a shooter.
As an aside, if you thought Phoenix Suns fans were going through it during this tumultuous season in the desert, just wait and see their reaction if this scenario plays out. This pick was originally sent to Brooklyn for Kevin Durant, but it now resides in Houston after the Rockets gave the Nets their draft capital back in exchange for a few Suns picks.
April 23
The pick: Trade back to mid 20’s, take best available player
Welcome to the first of many attempts of me trying to will this franchise into trading down. Let’s face reality for just a minute here: The Mavericks are strapped for picks, and they have a very old team. That’s not a good recipe! The way to try and fix this is to accumulate assets wherever it is possible, and there’s no time like the draft in order to do so.
It’s especially helpful when you look at the group of players who project to be late first rounders. Carter Bryant (Arizona) is a guy who I’m going to try and will to this team. Nique Clifford (Colorado State) was an all-conference player who can fill it up. Walter Clayton Jr. (Florida) was the best player on the team that just won the National Championship. Labarron Philon (Alabama) projected as a lottery pick preseason and slipped a bit throughout the year, but the talent is undeniable. These are just a few of the guys who could be available in the back half of the first round. Sign me up for this option.
April 24
The pick: Jeremiah Fears (Oklahoma)
I don’t have much faith in Fears falling all the way out of the top ten in this draft, but some people do, so we must at least look at the possibility. Fears, like top pick Cooper Flagg, reclassified in high school, meaning he should still be a senior at AZ Compass Prep in Arizona. Instead, he’s a lottery pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Fears averaged 17/4/4 in his lone season in Norman, but the efficiency was lacking. That’s not out of the ordinary for a guy who didn’t turn 18 until after the season had already started, but that is likely to be even more of an issue early on in his NBA career. Still, this guy has the talent that you just don’t pass on. He’s extremely fast and has really good hands, averaging over a steal and a half as a freshman. If Fears is available at 11th overall, they should absolutely stick and pick him.
April 25
The pick: Liam McNeely (UConn)
A player who is consistently mocked in the late lottery, why not Dallas for the Richardson product? McNeely was the Huskies’ most highly touted player this year, and he showed flashes as to what the hype was all about. However, McNeely as a whole was very inconsistent. He shot less than 40% from the field and just 32% from 3. However, he’s 86% from the foul line, so the shot is not totally busted. McNeely was also a good rebounder, averaging over six per game.
Forward doesn’t stick out as a glaring need for the Mavericks at the time being, but all that could change this offseason. PJ Washington is extension eligible, and guys like Naji Marshall and Klay Thompson won’t hinder them from drafting a guy they like. We’ll get more intel as we get closer, but it’ll be something to keep an eye on.
Overall results
11th pick: five times